Seven

Chapter Seven

The idea of helping Lachlan learn about the ins and outs of relationships was more appealing than Emma wanted to admit. She just had to be careful that she didn’t let down her guard and develop actual feelings for him. The way they had fallen into step, working side-by-side in the kitchen as if they’d been partners there forever… It would be so easy to do.

He didn’t act like any of the fairies in the stories she had read. And he certainly didn’t act like her ideas about kings. In fact, Lachlan was one of the most down-to-earth people she’d ever met. He didn’t mind getting messy. He didn’t mind being told what to do. He was open to her feedback—eager to receive it even. And she had the strongest feeling that it wasn’t because he was trying to manipulate her.

What if all the stories she’d read were wrong?

No, not all of them. She had seen the frightening side of the Fae. Her left wrist still ached during bad storms sometimes. Now that she had seen fairies as an adult, she could view her childhood memories in a new light. Not as the fanciful imaginings of a bored little girl, but the actual experiences she’d had. The magic and the terror. It had all been real.

The last time she’d become friends with a fairy, her heart had been broken. Looking up at Lachlan, at his earnest expression and gorgeous… everything… He was so much more dangerous. Not to her physically. She somehow trusted that he would never hurt her. But it would be all too easy to fall for him.

No emotional involvement. She could do that. Keeping her distance was her superpower. She never let guys into her heart. But from time to time, she did let them into her bed. Lachlan had asked Emma to teach him how to fall in love. From what Hayden had shared with Emma, sex was definitely part of that for the Fae.

“You want me to help you feel everything,” Emma said.

“As much as you can.”

She leaned on the kitchen island, one hand resting on her hip. “That’s a pretty tall order.”

Lachlan took a step closer. “I’m sure you’re up to the task.”

She stared at him for a few moments, her thoughts buzzing. This could go wrong so many ways. But it could also go right…

“I guess that is part of what you need to know,” she began, “but let’s get one thing straight. I am not going to fall in love with you.”

“I’m not asking you to.”

She couldn’t keep herself from smirking at that. He was just the right amount of cocky, tempered with his willingness to listen and remain open-minded. It was a heady mix.

“So, you shouldn’t fall in love with me, either,” she said.

“Duly noted.” His lips pulled into a smirk that matched hers. “Is there a reason you’re giving me this dire warning right now?”

She reached out and ran her fingertips along his corded forearm. Even though he held himself completely still, she could feel a tightly harnessed energy emanating from him. She stepped closer and grasped his hand in hers, then looked up at him.

“Close your eyes,” she said. He hesitated for a moment, then sighed and did as she instructed. “Imagine that this moment—this very moment—is all you will ever have, so you need to experience absolutely everything. Listen to the wind in the trees. Really hear it, rustling through their leaves. Take a deep breath and smell the flowers right outside the window.”

She studied his face as his lips twisted in a wry smile. As king of the Springtime Court, flowers were probably something he was well acquainted with. But as someone who lived with a bunch of fairies who used magic for everything, she was certain she could come up with many new experiences for him.

“Savor the scent of the freshly baked cake that’s lingering in the air,” she said.

One eyebrow arched, though he kept his eyes shut. He took another deep breath, then another, through parted lips. He smiled, then laughed.

“It’s like an echo,” he said. “It both is and isn’t there.”

“The anticipation is half the fun in baking,” she said. “And other things.”

She reached up and ran her fingertips over his cheek, brushing her thumb across his lips. He sucked in a breath, his eyes flying open and flashing with a bright green light. Her heart pounded, her skin tingling with anticipation. Tightening her grip on his hand, she turned and led him from her kitchen toward the curving staircase that led to the second floor. He didn’t say anything, even when she pushed the door to her bedroom open and walked inside. They stopped at the foot of her bed, staring into each other’s eyes.

It should have been corny. Any other time, with any other person, it would have been corny. But they had an understanding, she and Lachlan. They would explore this for their own mutual benefit, then go their separate ways. A pang echoed through her chest at the thought. It was no doubt a product of them being linked through the magic of the Wheel of the Year. She pushed the thought away and brought her hands up to the back of his neck, pulling him down for a kiss.

Just before their lips touched, he murmured, “I have a feeling I’m going to enjoy your tutelage.”

She chuckled, then said, “Not half as much as I am.”

His lips caught hers, commanding and fierce. There was no soft exploring, only a desperate hunger that fed into her own. He gripped the small of her back, pressing her closer, arching over to bring more of their bodies together. He was so tall. She could definitely see why they called him ’The Oak King.’

She pressed on his shoulders attempting to get him to sit down, but he didn’t budge, not even when she kept up the pressure. That could get annoying fast. He didn’t seem interested in breaking off the kiss, either. Physical queues seemed lost on him. She’d need to be a bit more aggressive.

Energy coiled within her, then stretched through her like a searchlight blazing toward the sky. She pushed again, and he went right down, landing heavily on the bed. He stared up at her with wide eyes.

Shit. Had she drawn on her magic? No, not her magic. The fairy magic inside of her. She didn’t want to use it, didn’t want to be tempted to keep it. That was one of the ways fairies tricked people, by giving them power and corrupting them with it.

But Lachlan hadn’t been the one to give her the power. The Holly King had done so. Lachlan seemed mad about it, but he wasn’t taking that anger out on her. He didn’t blame her unjustly, as was done in so many of the stories. From everything she’d seen of him or had learned through Finn and Hayden, Lachlan had only been decent.

Warmth bloomed in her chest at the thought. The thought she should not be having, least of all now. She needed to push it out of her head. She wanted all the worlds to go away and just give her this moment. This moment… with him.

She pulled her shirt over her head and tossed it aside, grateful she’d already removed her sweater while they were working in the kitchen. Grasping Lachlan’s face, she pulled him close for another kiss. This time, she was the conqueror. She licked the seam of his lips, then plunged her tongue within as soon as he opened his mouth for her. Immediately, they were sparring, their tongues dancing, exploring, dominating. Nothing about him was passive. She loved that.

Appreciatedthat. Appreciated.

She needed more of them touching. More distraction. Pushing back from him, she bent down to untie her shoelaces.

Lachlan let out a groan and said, “Please let me use magic for that.”

“Don’t bother begging.” Emma smiled up at him, pulling off her boots. “This is all part of the process.”

She stood and shimmied out of her jeans, then kicked them aside, her socks quickly following, along with her panties and bra. Lachlan’s lips were clenched in a thin line. A muscle in his jaw twitched as his gaze roved over her body. The air around him vibrated with a low growl emanating from deep in his chest. Finally, he blew out a breath, then grabbed his shirt and tore it off as he rose to his feet.

Emma felt her jaw drop, her eyes widening at the sight of his bare chest. It wasn’t just the rows of perfect abs, the muscles upon muscles upon muscles. His chest and arms were covered with the most beautiful tattoo she’d ever seen. Lines wove together to form the image of bark on his chest and stomach, curving into branches that flowed down his arms. The leaves were so lifelike, they seemed to move in an unfelt breeze.

She reached out with shaky fingers, tracing the patterns. She had half expected his skin to be as rough as the tree patterned on his body, but it was warm and smooth to her touch. He hissed in a breath as her fingertips roved over his chest. She looked up to see his eyes glowing with an intense green light. He might not be using his magic, but he was magic. She needed to remember that. She was playing with fire here, but in that moment, she didn’t care if she was burned. There was no doubt in her mind that they were about to consume each other.

Kneeling, she untied his boots and held them as he stepped out of them. She helped him out of his socks, then rose on her knees and undid the clasp of his jeans. She pulled them down, along with his boxers, keeping her eyes averted until they were off and she had flung them away. This was something she wanted to take her time with, blocking out her peripheral view as much as she could.

She let her scrutiny slowly travel up his legs, tracing more patterns, but these lines thinner, entwined like roots. The design was beautiful, but not as beautiful as the form beneath them. His legs were as thick with muscle as the rest of him, absolutely sculpted. She couldn’t resist letting her hands join her eyes in enjoying him. Reaching out, she ran her fingers along his thighs, finally letting herself look at the enormous erection jutting at her.

“Oh damn.” Pleasure crashed along her nerves, her core pulsing at just the sight of him. “That is going to be a challenge.”

“What do you mean?” His voice was raspy, deep with desire.

“I mean we need to make sure I’m ready before anything happens.”

His brow furrowed as if he was confused. Did fairies use magic to warm up before sex? She pushed the thought of fairy foreplay out of her head, focusing on the moment.

“You might be ready to go, but my body needs… How do I say this… It needs to be prepared to receive you,” she said, running the backs of her fingertips along the inside of his thighs.

He sucked in another quick breath. She loved that she could make him feel this. A powerful Fae king. She wanted to bring him more pleasure, to give him an experience he’d never forget. Even when he was with whatever human woman he eventually won. And after seeing him like this, she was sure he could have his pick of any woman he wanted. Attracting them would be easy, making them fall for him even easier. His strength was tempered with a surprising supportiveness. If he wasn’t Fae, he’d be the perfect man.

Does it really matter that much?

Emma shoved the thought away. She wasn’t going to fall for him. That was their deal. She wanted to be free. Didn’t she?

She didn’t want to think. She just wanted to feel. And Lachlan was eager to help with that. If this time with him was all she was going to get, she wanted to make the most of it.

“Tell me what you need, and I’ll do it,” Lachlan said, his voice tight.

“Stimulation.” She looked up at him and smirked. “And simulation.”